Experts in neuroscience recently gathered to highlight medical advances at the first Atlantic Health Neurological and Neurosurgical Emergency and Critical Care Symposium.
The symposium is the inaugural continuing medical education (CME) conference by Atlantic Health. Held at the Hyatt Regency Morristown on Oct. 8-9, the event brought together clinical experts in neuro-critical care, the makers of cutting-edge treatments, and clinicians seeking to expand their understanding in the field.
The one-and-a-half-day CME course focused on how to resuscitate patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical emergencies. Developed by Dr. Kiwon Lee, chair of neurology at Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center and director of stroke and neurocritical care programs at Atlantic Health, the symposium was developed to promote advocacy and education for neurocritical care and advance cutting-edge treatments.
“Neurological and neurosurgical emergencies are life-threatening, time-sensitive illnesses that require clinicians to think and act quickly and use some of the most specialized, complex and advanced techniques and technology available,” said Dr. Lee. “This event was designed to bring together the foremost experts in this field to discuss, collaborate and celebrate these advances and the lives we save beyond expectation.”
The event included updates in neurovascular advances; special lectures by national leaders in the field of neurosurgery, stroke, and neurocritical care; a segment on applying critical care ultrasounds; a hands-on workshop for brain oximetry catheter placement; and a brain code and neurocritical care refresher course
The event also featured the experiences of two families affected by neuro-critical events.
Kevin and Jen Morra told the audience about their son, Jack. In March 2025, he experienced sudden stroke-like symptoms and was rushed to Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center before being transferred to Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center in Summit. He was diagnosed with a massive brain bleed caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
Jack, who was 18 at the time, spent more than three weeks in the Neuro ICU. After multiple surgeries, he faced a long road to recovery. Standing at the podium with his parents at the symposium, he thanked the stroke team for saving him.
“I don’t really remember any of it, but I’m here because of all of you,” Morra said.
Brian Friedman, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the New York Jets, also spoke at the event. Friedman is co-founder of the Matthew Friedman Memorial Foundation, an organization founded to honor his son, Matthew, who died after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm while a pre-med student in college.
“If this could happen to Matthew, it could happen to anyone,” Friedman said. “The diagnosis gave our loss a name. It also gave our family a responsibility. No parent should ever get that phone call.”
